Tag: Miami Freedom Park

 
It appears that Messi’s arrival in Miami has prompted forward motion in multiple ways. Not only is the Inter Miami FC now on a winning streak and ticket sales have gone into the stratosphere but after years of lobbying and preparation, construction has finally commenced on the new permanent Inter Miami Stadium in Miami Freedom Park.

The first phase of the development began earlier this month, which is the $350 million stadium itself and adjacent retail and entertainment outlets. Everyone is really pushing for the construction to be completed on the Inter Miami Stadium before Messi’s contract ends in 2025. As of this month, hoards of heavy equipment and crews are on the site and performing the site work. A formal groundbreaking will take place this fall.

When completed, the stadium will hold 25,000 spectators and is adjacent to a 58-acre public park with a 1-mile bicycle and walking trail that meanders around many different sports practice fields.

Phase two will encompass the three hotels that will offer 750 rooms, offices and additional retail. The construction on this part is expected to continue through 2030. In total, there will be over 1 million square feet of commercial retail, entertainment and office space.

“I can’t wait to welcome our fans to our state-of-the-art stadium and hear the chants as Messi and your Inter Miami players take the pitch for the first time in 2025” – Jorge Mas, Inter Miami CF Managing Owner

A Tight Construction Timeline

While Mas is optimistic about the construction timeline, there are still many moving parts that all must fall into place in order to meet the deadline. For starters, the FAA has not yet approved the height of the project. As a matter of fact, they have not even received the proposed heights in order to consider them according to the Wall Street Journal.

In September, Miami Dade’s DERM is expected to receive a report on the site as a followup from a meeting in July when it was discovered that the site requires remediation from arsenic and pesticides. A traffic impact study will also need to take place to ensure that the increased congestion does not negatively impact the Miami International Airport. This study was supposed to have been submitted in December 2022, but has not yet been turned in, so there is still quite a bit to do in order to ensure delivery on time for the end of Messi’s contract.

Naturally we all hope for an extension of his contract, but there are no guarantees at this point.

Economic Impact

The overall project is offering a monumental positive economic impact to Miami. Not only is it creating 15,000 jobs, the minimum pay is $15/hour. The league is also contributing $5 million in donations toward the Miami Baywalk-Riverwalk project and an additional $20 million to the City of Miami Parks Department.

It is estimated that once completed, the project will generate almost $43 million per year in tax revenue, and this is not costing the taxpayers a dime. The total value is estimated at $1 billion.

Whether we make it to the deadline and are able to see Messi play in the new Inter Miami Stadium or not, both his presence and this project are a massive windfall to our community. It is so rewarding and inspirational to see all of David Beckham’s hard work and faith in our city pay off after all of these years.

Photo Credit: Arquitectonica